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Va. restaurant, hospitality industry seeks $270M+ in relief funding
Hard hit by the pandemic, Virginia’s restaurant and hospitality industry is asking the General Assembly to dedicate more than $270 million from the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan dollars to assist hotels, restaurants and other hospitality-related industries. In a letter sent Tuesday to members of the state legislature’s money committees, the Virginia Restaurant, […][...]
Va. wedding venue loses suit against governor
On Friday, a federal judge ruled against Franklin County wedding venue Belle Garden Estate and its owner Charles Russell, who sued Gov. Ralph Northam in an attempt to expand the number of people who could attend a wedding under the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. Under current executive orders, businesses can host only 25 people outdoors if […]
Richmond cuts three of six casino proposals
Updated, March 25 The city of Richmond has rejected three of its six casino proposals. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos and Wind Creek Hospitality are no longer in the running, the city confirmed Wednesday night. In late February, the city announced that six casino projects had been submitted for con[...]
Primland resort appoints executive chef
Primland announced Tuesday that Elliot Cunniff has been appointed executive chef of the Meadows of Dan resort. Cunniff comes to Primland from The Soho House, an upscale private club in New York City where he served as executive chef. He got his start working with culinary celebrity Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne in New York[...]
Hotel revenues down 39% in February
Virginia hotel revenues for February 2021 declined by 39% compared to February 2020, according to data released Thursday by STR Inc., a CoStar Group division that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. During the same period, rooms sold declined by 23%. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for hotel rooms dropped 21% to […]
Northam signs alcohol, ‘games of skill’ bills into law
Gov. Ralph Northam announced on Friday that he has signed several bills into law, including ones that allow for the delivery and take-out of alcoholic beverages and the ban of so-called “games of skill.” House Bill 1879, sponsored by Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, and Senate Bill 1299, sponsored by state Sen. John Bell, D-Ash[...]
Pamunkey tribe hires EVP of gaming, resort operations
The Pamunkey Indian Tribal Gaming Authority, a non-corporate entity owned by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, announced Thursday that Rodney Ferguson has been hired as executive vice president of gaming and resort operations, effective April 12. He also will serve in a senior leadership role at the tribe’s forthcoming Norfolk ca[...]
Hampton Inn & Suites in Newport News sells for $9M
Chester-based Shamin Hotels has purchased a 120-room Hampton Inn & Suites in Newport News for $9 million. Shamin purchased the hotel, which it plans to renovate, from Yoder Inn Group LP as an investment. Located at 12251 Jefferson Ave. on approximately 2.65 acres, the hotel consists of 90 rooms and 30 two-room suites. Shamin[...]
Double play
Hampton Roads will be home to two Las Vegas-style casino complexes after Norfolk and Portsmouth voters overwhelmingly approved November 2020 referendums greenlighting the projects in their cities. The referendums passed with 64.4% of the vote in Norfolk and 66.7% in Portsmouth. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is working with Tennessee[...]
A jackpot for Danville?
The now-blighted property that was Dan River Mills when textile was king in the city of Danville will soon morph into the gleaming, $400 million Caesars Virginia casino and resort. At one time, the 80-acre site in the Schoolfield neighborhood was the world’s largest single-unit textile manufacturing site. Now abandoned, the un[...]
Better times ahead
Catrina Mullins can picture the scene: A stage, musicians and a grassy lawn. People leaning back in chairs or sitting cross-legged on blankets on the ground, tapping their toes to familiar tunes. Others open windows to listen to the sound from their hotel rooms, which look out onto the lawn. This is what an outdoor […]
Payout on a dream
“Get it done!” Those three words sent Jason Eige and Martin Kent on a mission to bring a casino to Bristol Mall before commercial gaming resorts were even legal in Virginia. Eige, general counsel for The United Co., and Kent, the oil and gas company’s president and chief operating officer, vividly remember the day th[...]
